10 Great Home Projects and What They Cost

It’s rare for homeowners to dust off their hands and say, “There! Our home is complete!” There’s always something we feel we can do to make our spaces better, more efficient, more comfortable or just more visually appealing. Here are some ideas to inspire your next project; each one contains useful tips and things to consider, including cost, whether you need to hire a pro, get a permit and more.

1. Get the Closet of Your Dreams

There are various types of closets, key measurements and storage solutions to consider, so the options on a project like this are limitless.

-Modest-size wall closets: Less than $1,000 or even $500 if you choose less-expensive materials

-Walk-in closets: At least $750

-Higher-quality and custom closets: Several thousand dollars, easily

2. Design a Family Photo Wall

It seems simple enough: Put some photos in some frames and hang them on a wall. But getting a good-looking gallery wall takes a bit more planning and preparation.

Cost: A DIY installation can cost $300. A larger installation involving reprinting photos and having them professionally framed and hung could cost as much as $3,000 or more.

3. Get a Built-in Media Wall

If you’ve got the TV, sound system, speakers and more ready to go but they’re just not working on your wall, consider a built-in cabinet system to beautifully organize all of your electronics for the best experience.

Cost:

-Moderate-grade materials: For a unit measuring 12 feet wide and 8 feet high, expect to pay between $2,000 and $4,000 for moderate-grade finishes and appointments.

-Higher end: A more upscale unit, with more bells and whistles and a stained wood finish, would probably run you $3,000 to $6,000.

-DIY: Some homeowners can complete built-in projects for $2,000.

4. Bring Out Your Home’s Character With Trim

It might sound boring, but some of the small details of your home — like trim — can have a huge effect on the way it looks and feels.

Cost: If you were to trim a small bedroom with crown molding and a more substantial baseboard, you could probably do the project for less than $500. The cost for large rooms with custom casework will creep into the thousands of dollars, depending on the wood species and detail.

5. Upgrade Your House With New Interior Doors

Swapping out your doors can instantly elevate the style in your home.

Cost: Doors start at under $50 for a hollow core with a primed surface. Prices jump significantly for solid wood doors; expect to pay $200 to $300 for the more common styles and sizes.

Moving on up into specialty woods, such as exotic veneers, the price will balloon to $500 to $1,000 per door, and even more for antique and custom doors. Keep in mind that you will have to pay for installation labor and finish materials in all circumstances.

6. Add a Murphy Bed

Beds take up a lot of space. If you have a guest room that’s used only a few days out of the year, that means you’re potentially wasting a lot of space. A fold-up bed could help your spare room perform multiple duties.

Cost: This depends on the system, the size, additional shelving and cabinets, who will install it and more. You can get a simple Murphy bed that folds out from what looks like a large cabinet (like the one seen here) for about $2,500; you can get semicustomizable prefab versions starting at $5,000. Bringing in professionals to help integrate a one-of-a-kind custom design will cost more.

7. Remodel Your Fireplace

Replacing a fireplace wall is mostly an aesthetic choice, but if yours is a commanding focal point in your room, then it could be worth the time and effort for an overhaul. Plus, an updated fireplace can also increase resale value.

Cost: Drywalling over a brick fireplace could run about $1,500. A 6-foot-wide floor-to-ceiling paint-grade oak or poplar fireplace with a tiled hearth could run around $2,000. Wrapping an entire fireplace wall in stone and adding a custom mantel could run around $9,000.

The goal of most wall-removal projects is to connect rooms and create a more open floor plan. Removing a wall can also bring more light into a space and create better flow. (An exterior wall can also be removed and the area bumped out to increase space.)

Cost:

-To remove a non-load-bearing wall, one story or two, when you’re installing carpet: $2,500 to $3,000

-To remove a single-story load-bearing wall: about $10,000

-To remove a two-story load-bearing wall: $20,000 to $30,000

9. Add Wallpaper

Wallpaper (or wall coverings, as they are known these days, since many aren’t made from actual paper) is a fun way to transform the look of a room without radically altering the space or investing in new furniture.

Cost:

-Around $35 to $50 for a single roll of low-end paper

-Around $140 for a roll of midrange paper

-$300 or more for a high-end paper

10. Install a Chandelier

Add drama or define a space, such as a dining area, within an open floor plan with a statement lighting fixture.

Cost: Given that the average electrician charges between $40 and $100 per hour, the job should cost about $200 to $300 for installation parts and labor.